D.C. Mayoral Candidate Opposes Youth Curfews, Calls for Expanded Programs

D.C. mayoral debate Monday night that youth curfews are dangerous and should not be used. She called instead for expanded youth programming, including year-round summer employment, extended center hours, and apprenticeships. Lewis George, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, said the city should give young people tools to succeed and address chronic absenteeism.

She also pledged to expand universal childcare access so that no family spends more than 7 percent of its income on care.

M. C. police responded to the incident. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that her office will pursue cases against parents of juveniles involved in such disturbances. Pirro said teen takeovers have disrupted neighborhoods, forced temporary business closures, and diverted law enforcement resources.

Fain Lehman, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said in an emailed statement that the approach is exactly backwards. He stated that public acting out results from failure to enforce rules about public conduct rather than from insufficient services.

Stefani Buhajla, a spokesperson for Heritage Action, said libraries and green spaces are not the solution and that law and order is needed. C. has faced poor leadership for decades and that crime and homelessness have made the city inhospitable.